SUPREME COURT (AP) _ The U-S Supreme Court has decided not toreview a New York City policy that bans public school displays ofNativity scenes but allows Santa Claus, reindeers, Christmas treesand symbols of Jewish and Islamic holidays.

The nation's highest court chose not to re-examine an appealscourt decision against the claim filed by Andrea Skoros, a RomanCatholic mother of two sons who attended public schools. She firstfiled the case in 2002 in Brooklyn federal court.

Skoros had claimed that the city's policy promoted and endorsedthe religions of Judaism and Islam and conveyed a message ofdisapproval toward Christianity.

CHRIS TOMLIN, JARS OF CLAY, LEAD DOVE AWARD NOMINEES

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) _ Christian singer Chris Tomlin, theDove Awards' 2006 artist of the year, has been nominated for nineDoves this year, including another nod for artist of the year.

Tomlin received the most nominations, followed by Jars of Claywith six. The Crabb Family and newcomers Aaron Shust (shoost) andthe group Leeland had five each.

Tomlin says he just tries ``to write songs that give people avoice to worship God.''

This year's Dove Awards will be held April 27th at the Grand OleOpry House in Nashville. The show will be televised in nationalsyndication in May.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) _ The evangelist who was to have been lastnight's keynote speaker at the National Religious Broadcastersconvention, the Reverend D. James Kennedy, remains hospitalizednearly two months after suffering a nearly fatal heart attack.

Kennedy had a pacemaker-debrillator implanted a week after theDecember 28th heart attack at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Fisher says Kennedy's recovery is taking longer than hoped, butthe evangelist's prognosis is good as he continues rehabilitationin hopes of going home and returning to work.

EPISCOPAL LEADER ASKS FOR PATIENCE AFTER ANGLICAN DEMANDS TO END SUPPORT FOR GAYS

NEW YORK (AP) _ Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine JeffertsSchori (SHOHR'-ee) is asking church members to be patient afterfellow Anglican leaders demanded the U-S denomination step backfrom its support for gays or risk losing its full membership in theworld Anglican Communion.

Schori says Anglican leaders have asked all sides in the fightover the Bible and homosexuality to ``forbear for a season'' inhopes of forging a compromise.

At the end of a summit Monday in Tanzania (tan-zuh-NEE'-uh),which Jefferts Schori attended, Anglican leaders demanded that theEpiscopal Church unequivocally bar official prayers for gay couplesand the consecration of more gay bishops by September 30th or riskits status in the communion.

Anglican leaders also suggested creating a special vicar forEpiscopalians who reject the authority of Jefferts Schori, whosupports gay relationships.

LESBIANS ARRESTED AT FOCUS ON THE FAMILY HEADQUARTERS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) _ Two lesbian activists have beenarrested after refusing to leave the lobby at the Focus on theFamily complex in Colorado Springs until they could speak tofounder James Dobson.

Dotti Berry and Robynne Stapp, a lesbian couple from Blaine,Washington, were arrested Monday afternoon on suspicion oftrespassing, according to their group, Soulforce.

In a statement issued by Soulforce, the women said they wereprotesting Focus' teaching that homosexuals can becomeheterosexual.

Soulforce officials said Berry and Stapp are the firstparticipants in a campaign called ``Focus on the Facts.''

FOUR MISSIONARIES KIDNAPPED IN NIGERIA

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ Four Mormon missionaries are being heldhostage in Nigeria's southern oil region, an area plagued by recentunrest.

Church spokesman Mark Tuttle says the four men are Nigeriansbetween the ages of 19 and 21.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the abduction occurredSaturday.

Tuttle says the Mormon church is not commenting on thekidnappers' demands but is working with local officials to securethe missionaries' release.

It's a large leap from Stockholm to the big leagues, butLindstrom has a shot at becoming the Florida Marlins' closer thisseason.

A fastball clocked last fall at 102 miles-per-hour makes therookie right-hander a strong candidate, and his missionarybackground may help, too. Idaho native Lindstrom spent two years inSweden, where he went door to door trying to spread the Mormonfaith, in Swedish, with decidedly mixed results. He was oncechastised by a 350-pound bus driver who said Mormons try to stealmoney.

In comparison, nursing a lead in the ninth inning might seemstress-free.

CLERGY TO PARTICIPATE IN VATICAN SOCCER TOURNAMENT

ROME (AP) _ Italian soccer has not been a pious spectacle oflate, with riots and scandals marring a game that is practically areligion in Italy.

Sports officials now hope clergymen from 50 nations can bringfaith to soccer as they take to the field for the first time in atournament for priests and seminarians kicking off Saturday.

Catholic institutes have entered 16 teams in the Clericus Cup,fielding 311 athletes from countries including the United States,Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda.

The Clericus Cup will run through June, with most games beingplayed at a Vatican soccer field in Rome.

NEW CHURCH BUILDING TO INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES

LIVE OAK, Calif. (AP) _ A California congregation's new churchbuilding will incorporate what the pastor calls ``our values ofsustainability and good resource management.''

The new Live Oak United Methodist Church in Santa Cruz will getpower from solar panels disguised as roof tiles and there will beskylights to save on electric lighting.

The church parking lot will be paved with an asphalt concretethat absorbs water, draining it into the ground below. Some of thestained-glass windows from the old church will be reused and thefurnaces will be higher efficiency.